An agreement between New Mexico State University and the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine will give qualified students at NMSU guaranteed admission into the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine after their undergraduate degree is attained.
The Osteopathic Medicine Pathway Program will give students the opportunity to go directly from their baccalaureate program to a doctor of osteopathic medicine program, at the same time providing a supportive and enriched undergraduate learning environment through a Living Learning Community.
The program also will enhance the availability of medical degrees for students graduating from NMSU and increase the number of health care providers in New Mexico who are serving the health needs of the diverse population.
“The Osteopathic Medicine Pathway Program is an exciting opportunity for students interested in a medical career and should be attractive to many high school graduates from New Mexico and surrounding states,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Dan Howard. “I appreciate the strong support this program has received from the leadership of the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine and I look forward to working with them to ensure that the program helps to meet the health care needs of New Mexico.”
Students accepted into the program will be required to meet certain standards of academic performance, fully participate in required activities and demonstrate ethical behavior during the four years of their undergraduate experience at NMSU.
The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine is being constructed on the NMSU campus and will open its doors in the fall of 2016. While the Burrell College is a private and free-standing college that is not a part of NMSU, it is closely affiliated with NMSU. Its students will be able to take advantage of the student life and campus community benefits that NMSU offers.
“Our mission is to improve the region’s health care by sustainably increasing the number and diversity of physicians in the area,” said George Mychaskiw, founding dean and chief academic officer for the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. “This pathway program is the best way to assure we recruit and retain the best local talent, as our motto says, ‘Para la gente y el futuro,’ for the people and the future.”
Students interested in applying for the Pathways program must meet all admission requirements for NMSU. In addition, they must have a composite score of 23 or higher on the ACT and a high school grade point average of 3.5 or greater. Students must complete an NMSU application as well as a supplemental pathway program application by Jan. 15 for admission to NMSU the following academic year.
The program is only open to freshmen and the target cohort size is 25 students. In addition to the other benefits of the program, students will have opportunities to be involved in research as well as internships in the medical community during the summer terms.
Information from NMSU